Barberino Di Mugello: Lake, Culture and Routes

Barberino di Mugello brings together natural and cultural attractions that can be given different emphasis when planning a stay. Water sports are a highlight at Lago di Bilancino, while gardens, historic buildings and local history offer other points of interest. If you’re looking for a hotel in Barberino di Mugello, you can consider which focus you’d like your trip to have. Outdoor activities include water sports as well as hiking, trekking and cycling; the routes and details for each vary considerably in scope.

Lake and Water Sports

Lago di Bilancino is in Mugello and is the largest artificial lake in Tuscany. Canoeing, sailing and windsurfing are possible on the lake. Water sports offer a different focus from hiking and cycling tours. Lago di Bilancino is part of the “Zona a Regolamento Specifico Invaso di Bilancino.” This area is fully regulated by rules approved by the Region of Tuscany and agreed with the Municipality of Barberino di Mugello.

Gardens, History and Culture

The Giardini Monumentali are Italian gardens dating from the late 19th century. They contain the Monumento ai caduti di tutte le guerre, created by Giuseppe Gronchi. The gardens and monument thus bring together the garden design of that era and the remembrance of those who died in all wars.

Canta’Maggio is an established local tradition that brings together Barberino’s rural history and the competitive spirit of the Palio dei Rioni. The Villa Medicea di Cafaggiolo has been included on UNESCO’s World Heritage List. A ceramics factory was built next to the villa, where both everyday items and valuable pieces were made.

The Biblioteca Comunale Padre Ernesto Balducci also offers a way to explore local history. It is located in the Palazzo Pretorio in Barberino di Mugello. Its extensive local history section can be consulted on site—an opportunity to learn more about the town’s history during your stay. The Pieve di San Silvestro, a religious building dating from 1600, adds another dimension to this theme.

Hiking and Cycling

Barberino di Mugello has numerous routes for trekking and mountain biking. The A piedi in Mugello sulle tracce dei Medici hiking route is about 12.5 kilometres long, takes approximately four hours and has 245 metres of elevation gain. For planning your day, the approximate duration provides a time estimate; the distance and elevation gain add details about the route’s length and ascent.

The Gran Fondo del Mugello is a permanent cycling tourism route of 120 kilometres through villages and over Apennine passes. Compared with the roughly 12.5-kilometre hike, the cycling tour involves a very different distance and type of activity. Its length, route through villages and Apennine passes give this cycling route its own character.

Getting to the Mugello Region

One way to reach the Mugello region is via the A1 motorway; you can take the Barberino di Mugello exit. You can factor this regional approach into your plans when organising your stay.

Discover more destinations: Latera, Cavallina, Bassa, Vaglia, Pinete, Reggello, Pian De' Cerri, Londa

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